Justification:Cyanea superba ssp. superba was endemic to the island of Oahu, Hawaii. It was known only from the northern Waianae Mountains More than 60 plants in two subpopulations were known in the 1970s. The subspecies (and species) then declined down to only one subpopulation containing about five plants. But those too have now finally gone. The major threats to the species and its habitats were alien plants, feral pigs, slugs and fire.

This subspecies was until recently still extant in the wild, as opposed to ssp. regina. It was known from two small subpopulations, totaling fewer than 10 plants, on the Waianae Mts., one on federal property in Kahanahaiki valley and the other on state land in Pahole Gulch. A third subpopulation, previously reported, appears to have been based on a misidentification.

The major threats to the species and its habitats included invasive alien plants, and predation by feral pigs, rats and slugs. Other major threats included wildfires generated by activities in the nearby military firing range. The restricted range of the species also made it very vulnerable to small local disturbances, and hence the last few individuals were easily destroyed.